Trenching device.



E. M. SKINNER.

TRENGHING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN so 1008.

926, 1 45. Patented June 29, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

ITNESSES INVENTOR I BYg m W ATTOHNZj E. M. SKIN'NER.

TRENCHING APPLICATION FILED JAN. so. 1908.

DEVICE.

Patented June 29, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHIP 2 v No. 926,145.

EDWIN M. SKINNER, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

TRENcHme DEVICE;

' Specification of Letters Patent.

- Patented June 29, 1909.

Application filed January 30, 1908. Serial No. 413,400.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, EDWIN M. SKINNER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Fort- Wadsworth, Staten Island, borough and county of Richmond, cityv and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trenching Devices, of which the following is a specification.

-y invention relates to trenching devices and has for its object toprovide a device for digging trenches for the purpose of draining and reclaiming meadow land and marshes, which device is easily operated and is effective and simple in construction.

Other objects of my invention will appear from the annexed description and the features of novelty will be pointedout in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a front view with parts in section showing the device in operative position. Fig. 2 is a side view thereof; Fig. 3 is a tplan view of the guiding and supporting rame; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an elevation of a vacuum stick used in conjunction with my device, and Fig. 6 is a section thereof on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

The actual digging tool comprises a blade A having a pointed lower edge B which is sharpened to form a cutting edge and side members C having projections D the lower inclined edges E of which are also in the nature. of cutting edges. The pointed edge 13 preferably extends somewhat beyond the lowermost points of the cutting edges E. A handle F is secured between extensions F of the blade A by means of rivets or bolts F A second handle G is fastened to the handle F at a suitable point between the free end of said handle F and the blade A by means of a collar and socket G.

H is a cross bar located on the handle F near the free end thereof and serves as a grip as will be more fully described hereinafter.

I are short sections of tubing with fiattened ends secured to the blade A in any convenient manner as by rivets I and serve as foot pieces to force the tool into the ground.

J is a thin metal rod having its ends secured in the tube sections I and having parallel side portions J and another portion J 2 which extends through the handle F.

J 3 are liftin handles which cover the portion J of tie rod J and are intended to be used to lift the tool from one point to another as the work of digging progresses. Owing to the fact that the metal rod J need only be of small diameter, the strength of the handle F is not materially affected at the point where the rod passes through it.

K is a frame for guiding the work and consists of two side bars K connected at their ends by cross bars K Metal strips L provided with notches L are secured along the inside edges of the side bars K so as to extend somewhat above the upper surface of said side bars. The notches L are intended to receive the tube sections I during the operation of the tool as will be more clearly brought out hereinafter. The strips L are turned under said side bars K to strengthen the guiding frame which, may be used as a bridge for the purpose of crossin" small streams, etc.

if is a vacuum stick consisting of a handle M and a pointed body portion M in which are located grooves M which extend lengthwise of said body portion and serve as air inlets to destroy the vacuum which is formed at the bottom of the trench as the tool is operated.

In using my device the frame K is laid on the ground where it is desired to dig to form a bearing for the tool. The blade A of the tool is then forced into the ground between the side members K until the tube sections I enter the notches L of the strips L on the frame K. This forcing down of the blade may be easily accomplished by the workmen pressing down with their feet on the tube sections I much in the same manner as an ordinary spade is forced into the ground. During this operation the sod is cut crosswise by the pointed and sharpened end B of the tool and the side cuts are made by the sharpened edges E of the projections D. The cut portion of the sod is now free to be removed from the trench which is accomplished in the following manner. The tool is first forced forward away from the laborers by pushing on the handle F, the point of the tool acting as a fulcrum. This leaves a space between the rear surface of the blade and fixed cross walls of the trench, into which space the vacuum stick is introduced. The tool is then drawn back again until the tube sections 1 again enter the notches L. The handle F is then pulled farther toward the laborers, the tube sections I serving as a fulcrum, which action raises the cut sod part of the way out of the trench. After the handle F has been moved as far as c011- venient, the second handle G is grasped by the laborers and the handle is pulled toward the laborers. This causes the sod to be completely raised from the trench after which it is removed from the blade by another laborer by means of a suitable tool or hook and laid alongside of the trench. After this has been done, the tool is moved along by means of the cross bar H and the handles J 3 and the operation repeated. By inserting the vacuum stick between the blade and the cross wall of the trench the cut sod is easily removed as the vacuum formed by trying to remove the sod from the trench is destroyed by the air which rushes into the trench through the space between the blade of the tool and the cross wall of the trench or through thechannels of the said vacuum stick. If desired, the upper surface of the frame K may be marked off for certain distances'for instance ten feet so that the work may be measured as it proceeds thus doing away with the necessity of measuring after the work is finished. This frame K may be secured in position by pegs N driven through suitable openings in the frame into the ground. When the trench has been dug as far as the frame K will permit, the frame is moved along and the work continued. It will thus be seen that the frame K acts as a guide as well as a bearing for the tool, it being understood that the distance between the inside edges of the side bars is slightly greater than the width of the blade A. The length of the blade is such that the desired depth of trench is obtained in one operation, thus doing away with the necessity of going over the work a second or even a third time, as is the case with an ordinary s ade. By providing the two handles F an G it is unnecessary for the laborers to stoop or bend as when the handle F has been pulled as far as convenient, the second handle G isv brought into use and the operation of raising the sod completed as above described.

The laborer can thus work much longer and with much less fatigue than with an ordinary spade, in using which it is necessary to almost continuously assume a stooped or bent position. 7

The use of the vacuum stick may be omitted if desired, in which case the operation of the tool is as follows: When the tool is forced into the earth as above described, the foot pieces I will seat themselves in one of the notches L. The tool is then forced forward as hereinbefore mentioned to loosen the sod and then brought back, but instead of bringing the foot'pieces I which move in the arc of a circle, back into the same notch L, the said foot pieces are seated by the workmen in the notch L immediately in front of the notch first occupied by said foot pieces. A space is thus left between the rear face of the tool and the lateral wall of the trench so that, as the sod is lifted from the trench air may enter this space and prevent the formation of a vacuum. The time necessary for placing the vacuum stick in position is thus available for digging purposes, resulting in a greater ca pacity for the tool.

-The strips L with the notches L may be omitted if desired in which case the vacuum stick above mentioned or its equivalent must be used When the frame is made as shown the vacuum stick or its equivalent may be omitted.

I claim:

1. A device for digging trenches comprising a. digging tool having projections, and a guide frame provided with notches arranged to receive said projections of the tool,

2. A device for digging trenches comprising a guide frame provided with parallel rows of notches, and a digging tool having projections arranged to enter said notches and to act as a fulcrum to ermit the digging tool to be swung on said frame.

3. In a trench digging device, a guide frame comprising parallel side members provided with notches and end members connecting said side members.

4:. In a trench digging device a guide frame comprising parallel side members provided with notches along their outer edges and end members connecting said side members.

5. In a trench digging device a guide frame comprising connected side and end members having openings therein and pegs arranged to enter said openings to secure the frame in position.

6. The combination, with parallel supporting bars, of a digging tool provided with a fulcrum arranged to engage said bars at different points of their length.

7. The combination, with parallel supporting bars, of a di ging tool provided with laterally projected pivots arranged to engage said bars at different points of their i In testimong whereof, I have hereunto set length and to form a shifting fulcrum for my hand, in t e presence of'two subscribing 10 said tool. Witnesses, this 24th day of January, 1908.

8. The combination with parallel supporting bars and cross loars connecting them, EDWIN SKINNER' arranged to engage'said parallel bars and JOHN A. KEHLENBEQK,

of a digging tool provided with a fulcrum Witnesses: adjustable lengthwise thereof. i JOHN LOTKA. 

